Inspiring story of how one woman lost 48lbs and continues to lose!

Do you have significant weight to lose and feel overwhelmed as to where to start?

Are you the caretaker for many people in your life and find that you’re constantly putting yourself last on the list?

If so, you are really going to enjoy the interview I have for you today! Jody, first started with our FM4L 6 Week Challenge (available to anyone in the world), and then transitioned into our fast growing Killer Kurves program, also known as K2.

Jody has an infectious smile and personality that brightens up the room. I am so proud of her on-going transformational journey and her dedication to this lifestyle change!

Here is the interview with Jody:

Share a little bit about yourself and your background with your health and fitness.

I swam competitively since I was 5 years old through high school. Also, I started running long distance on the track and field team in junior high through my junior year in high school. I kept up my fitness routine in college, as I didn’t want to gain the dreaded “Freshmen 15”. I was really good my first two years of college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; however, when I transferred to University of Oregon, I gained the “Junior 20”. I have always been cautious about my health and my weight, as my father had diabetes and we watched what we ate as a family. Everywhere I have lived I have joined a gym (usually at the start of a new year). I would go for awhile, until I was bored or didn’t see any results.

Where was your life before being introduced to FM4L and Killer Kurves?

First off, I am a people pleaser and go with the flow kind of gal. The last time I really wanted to lose weight was in 2006 when I went through a bunch of medical tests to make sure I was healthy enough to give my dad a kidney. He had diabetes and was on dialysis at the time. It is amazing what you can do when you put your mind into it.

So in June 2006, I donated my kidney to my dad. It was great recovering with him over the next month and to watch his energy come back. I would love to say that he is doing great today; however, he passed away suddenly of a massive heart attack in 2010. It was shocking and very hard on my whole family.

In the 4 years after his death, I have gained quite a bit of weight as I was always thinking about how my mom was doing and not really caring about myself. Since my siblings all had significant others and kids, it was up to me to be strong for my mom. I didn’t want her to worry about me as I was alone and didn’t have anyone to lean on during this tough time, so I would visit her every weekend for a couple of months, just to be with her. Over these years I found out that she is one of the strongest women I know and I so admire her.

I knew I really needed to work on my health as I would get depressed and not really care how I looked. I would enjoy my time just chilling at home and not going anywhere where people would see me. My mom was very supportive and would kindly remind me to take better care of myself but I really didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to change my mind and attitude, until I went to visit my doctor in 2013 for a checkup and she listed obesity as a health issue in my chart.

I had avoided going to the doctor for many years, as I didn’t want to be reminded about my weight. This time, I wanted the Dr. to tell me I was healthy and surprise, I was told I had a disease of obesity, which I could fix. Your program has helped me better my life. I can do something for myself and not feel guilty about it. Now, I feel that I’m really living my life instead of just existing here on Earth.

How did you hear about my program? What were your initial thoughts? Where you skeptical?

I heard about your 6-Week Challenge program through my work. You came for an informative lunch-N-learn discussion. At first I wasn’t going to attend, it was Fit Moms for Life and I wasn’t a mom. I asked one of my co-workers, who invited me to go to the lunch and learn with her, why I would attend something that wasn’t relative to me since I’m not a mom. She explained that it wasn’t just for moms – it is for anyone who wants to improve their health, so I went to your talk, joined the FM4L challenge and it has changed my life!

I walked into my work’s cafeteria bright and early on that Tuesday morning excited, nervous, anxious, and definitely not knowing what I was getting myself into. At first, I didn’t think this program would be any different than any other weight loss program I tried. I figured it was just for 6 weeks. I can try any program for 6 weeks. I still remember waking up the next day after the first workout and I could barely walk. My whole body was so sore and it was so hard to getting up from my office chair. I kept telling myself that it is a good hurt and that my body is waking up.

As you were in the program what were you enjoying? What were some of the challenges you had to overcome?

I really enjoyed actually moving my body again with a big group and learning different exercises. I also enjoyed learning more about myself and why I was actually attending the program through the weekly questions. I also liked the Fit Moms for Life wristbands which were provided. I believe that having that physical reminder on me has helped me stay with the program and make it a true lifestyle change. I loved going through this journey with others and sharing my successes and struggles. In the past, I would always try to tackle my weight loss by myself as I would only disappoint myself and not let others down if I didn’t follow through.

I have come to realize the importance of community and especially being part of the right community, where you feel comfortable sharing your journey. When I started the 6-week challenge in May, I didn’t feel comfortable or safe to share as much with that community, as they were on a different journey and had different goals then me.

This all changed when I started Killer Kurves, where I was among people who knew the struggles and hardships of trying to lose weight. It is so refreshing to have the right people around me for help with my struggles. The K2 program has helped me open up more to people and to feel more confident and proud of myself.

How is your life different now than it was before being introduced to my program?

I can’t believe how much I have grown in strength and confidence over these past 6 months and I’ve realized that this journey is not just about my weight loss. As of today, I have lost 48 pounds and over 25 inches (10 inches just on my abdomen!). It is a good start to my journey, but I’m not done yet. I am more positive now at work and not so negative in daily situations. With the weight loss, when I smile, my dimples are showing more and I’m loving that.

How has other areas in your life improved besides losing weight and toning up?

My work environment has become more positive and I’m not dreading going to work these days. I’m becoming more talkative and opening up more to people. One of the big improvements in my life is having my spiritual life back. I have had a strong relationship with God previously; however, it changed when my dad died. I was very honored to be the one to give my dad a kidney to make his life better – I thought that was my purpose in life. When Dad died suddenly, I was very angry with God . I’m happy that I have that relationship back in my life these days.

How has the reaction been with your friends and family. Do they treat you differently? Do they try to sabotage your results? How have you handled all of that?

It is really awesome that people at work are noticing. It has been exciting that people are coming up to me saying that I’m looking good and noticing my hard work. At first, I would take the compliments but not really acknowledge them, as I knew I had a long way to go until I hit my ideal goal weight. Now, I’m very proud people are noticing and thanking them for saying something. I’m embracing the change.

How has your eating improved? What is your eating like now?

Before the program, I would rarely bring in a lunch to work and if I did it would always be a frozen dinner. Living alone, I would go to fast food places on my way home from work for dinner. I would rarely cook dinner for myself. I didn’t eat many veggies, I usually reached for fruit if I was thinking about eating something healthy.

With the program, I have learn so much about nutrition and continue to learn more. The main nutritional change I have made is making sure I eat a protein or fat with a carb – no eating carbs alone anymore. Today, I enjoy planning and preparing my meals daily, including my snacks. I learned that I need to plan and prep all my meals for the week on the weekend or I make really bad choices with my eating during the week.

Examples of my breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks today are the following:

Breakfast: 2 fried eggs in butter with wheat toast or Greek yogurt with granola and honey

Lastly, your best friend comes up to you and is considering joining the program you were just on. What would you say to them?

I love Killer Kurves and the support and encouragement I get from everyone there, especially from the trainers Monique and Shelley. They make me believe I can do these workouts and deserve my sweat 🙂 I love the community it brings me and how they motivate me to continue on my journey. I feel I can be myself with everyone there and they accept me for me. Even though I will continue to be nervous driving to the Transformation Center, I have embraced that feeling knowing that I’m improving myself one day at a time.

Thank you Jody for sharing your on-going K2 journey with us. I know you inspire others with your dedication and commitment. Jody is an ordinary person who made a commitment. The commitment wasn’t just to lose weight – the commitment was to sign up and show up. That is all I ask from you. This program works! Showing up and becoming part of this community is hard to describe until you are in it. Just take the chance and join K2. You deserve this-do it for yourself!